Turkish gov’t detains 149 people for alleged terror promotion on social media

The Turkish government detained at least 149 people across Turkey on Wednesday on suspicion of promoting terrorist groups on social media.

At least 76 people were detained in Şırnak city center and Antalya province. 11 people, including 3 women were detained in a second operation launched in Alanya district of Antalya province, according to a report by Bianet.

Manisa Chief Prosecutor’s Office issued detention warrants for 12 suspects on the ground of “propagandizing for PKK/KCK on social media” and “aiding and abating illegal organization members”. 10 of the 12 figures were detained during an operation launched in the city.

Four university students were also detained in Zonguldak province for “criticizing Afrin operation on social media.” Police detained 9 people in Kocaeli province over the same charges. Moreover, 33 people were detained in Muş province over their social media posts.

Also in central Kayseri province, a Syrian national was detained for allegedly promoting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party/Kurdistan Communities Union/Democratic Union Party-People’s Protection Units (PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG) on social media. Another suspect was detained in the Black Sea province of Bolu for allegedly promoting the terror group in his posts on Operation Olive Branch.

Twelve people were charged with “organizing illegal march” on behalf of Revolutionist Socialist Labor Movement/Lever (DSİH), while 5 people who were accused of “propagandizing for leftist terror organizations on social media” were taken into custody in districts of Menemen and Selçuk in İzmir province.

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that the Turkish police’s cybercrime division had launched legal proceedings against 297 people after examining 544 social media accounts over their alleged promotion of terror organisations. In its statement dated February 26, the ministry had also announced that 845 people who criticized the Afrin operation on social media were detained.